2006-07-20 04:14:30 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
A galaxy is normally not spherical, but if it collides with another galaxy (presuming both are single star systems or have star clusters), then after a few million years, the combined galaxies do take a spherical shape, which is because the orbiting planets & asteroids are thrown in all directions while still orbiting the combined centers, so you have an orbit in almost every direction along the Z axis apart from X & Y.
But again, in time this is changed back to a normal state once the centrifugal, centripetal & other forces start affecting the revolving bodies.
I hope this answers your question.
2006-07-20 04:59:12 · answer #1 · answered by ngt_765 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, definitely not. Some galaxies may be round, but most of the galaxies, including the Milky Way, are not round. The earth isn't perfectly round either. It's a bit flat at the poles.
2006-07-20 04:21:47 · answer #2 · answered by Ganch222222213 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Galaxy is "round" only in the sense that it's circular as a whole. The Milky Way Galaxy in which we live, is about 100,000 light-years in diameter, but only about 10,000 light-years thick at its central core, called the "Hub. Around the central Hub, the Galaxy has "spiral Arms"....looking much like a "whirlpool". Our "Earth" is located in one of those spiral arms (actually in the "Orion Arm" of the spiral arms. If you go to your public library, you can find literally thousands of books which explain in great detail the make-up of our Milky Way Galaxy. Travelling at the speed of light (186,300 mph), it would take you at that incredible speed, 100,000 YEARS to cross from one edge of the Galaxy to the opposite side (edge) of the Galaxy. Let that sink into your mind just a little...and you may then get a little "glimpse" of the great VASTNESS of our Galaxy alone. The next NEAREST Galaxy to us is the famous "Andromeda"...which is 2.2 MILLION LIGHT-YEARS away. Tavelling at light-speed, it would require you 2.2 MILLION YEARS TO GET THERE...about 25,000,000,000,000 (25 trillion miles) distance from our Sun!! Now let THAT sink into your mind...and then THINK of the great VASTNESS OF SPACE AND THE UNIVERSE!!! It's "mind-boggling!!!
2006-07-25 10:03:40 · answer #3 · answered by LARRY M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We know it is NOT.
The most recent studies of our galaxy suggest it can be classified as what's called a "barred spiral" galaxy. Go and google this term with your search set to "images" and you will see the differences between "spiral", "barred spiral", "elliptical", and"irregular" galaxies. The pictures are worth many , many words.
before you do this...you might want to look at the "Hubble Classification System" for galaxies. This should help a lot.
2006-07-20 06:29:04 · answer #4 · answered by stevenB 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Milky Way galaxy is spiral shaped when viewed from "above."
From the side it looks like a pancake with a bulge in the middle.
2006-07-20 04:21:59 · answer #5 · answered by Jared Z 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Milky Way Galaxy is not round..
It is distinctly very much oval shaped.
MUCH more oval than Earth..
2006-07-20 04:25:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no. The planet is round (or maybe square?) but the galaxy, the universe are vast and open.
2006-07-20 04:18:52 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Earth is solid ( Kida). Galaxy is not solid. It is a collection of stars with a black hole in the middle.
2006-07-20 04:20:24 · answer #8 · answered by Dr M 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We have maps of the milky way galaxy. as well as many others. They come in all shapes.
2006-07-20 04:18:08 · answer #9 · answered by shake_um 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Neither is round.
2006-07-20 04:21:19 · answer #10 · answered by bigrob 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋